Trip of 95 days; how to proceed?

[Traveller85 0]

I am joining a business program in New York. The program lasts 95 days. A tourist visa to the US is valid for 90 days.

1) If during those 90 days I go back to The Netherlands for one week, will that one week be deducted from those 90 days?

2) If 1) doesn't work, can I buy a ticket for a stay of 60 days, return to The Netherlands for 1 week, and then go back to the US for another 30 days?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I would apply for a B1/B2 visa. That gives you 6 months. Depending on what this course is, you seem to have a legitimate reason why the 90 days the Visa Waiver Program gives you is not enough.

Edited February 22, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Agree with Harpa- you have a very good reason to get a B2 visa and shoudl have no problems getting approved.

[NCTwigz 0]

My fiance is from the Netherlands and he does the visa waiver program (Filled out the ESTA) which allows you the 90 day stay, but it's valid for 2 years. The way we understood it is your allowed to fly in and out of America as you please as long as you don't exceed 90 days at a time. So you could fly to America stay 90 days, go back to The Netherlands for a week and stay for another 90 days when you returned to America. Of course the ESTA website states that the ESTA doesn't guarantee you access past customs, border control are actually the ones that tell you yes or no. If you wanted to avoid the flight back to the Netherlands though Harpa and Penguin are right about the B1/B2 visa, not a hard visa to get approved depending on the business program and you get 6 months access

[Boiler 46,128]

You understood incorrectly.

[Boiler 46,128]

You understood incorrectly.

[GandK 168]

The easiest and hassle free way is to apply for a B2 visa. Bring the usual proof of ties to home and financial ability to support yourself for six months and also a letter of acceptance to the business program to strengthen your case.

I would also think that applying for B-2 and pay the visa fee is a lot cheaper than paying for the flight ticket back to europe just for a week.

[NCTwigz 0]

You understood incorrectly.

The ESTA website states "When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time - and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits."

[Boiler 46,128]

The ESTA website states "When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time - and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits."

Exactly